Carrying case

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a carrying case for a carrier so that one, two or three filled or full box of cards and its adaptability to be carried with other similar cases. The case comprises a top wall and a bottom wall being hingedly connected to a rear plate and each having a front face adapted to be fastened together about the box of cards disposed between the upper and lower plates. A plurality of handles hingedly connected to the front face of the carrier and adapted to be used in conjunction with at least one abutment means on the front face of the carrier so that one, two or three carrying cases may be carried at one time. A separator connectable within the cardcarrying box for separating various categories or holding a multiplicity of cards in one position adjacent an empty portion in the box.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Morton Blake 140-17 84th Drive, Jamaica, 11435; John S. Hill, 71 Winthrop Drive, Peekskill, 10566; Warren R. Crane, 46 S. Magnolia St., Pearl River, N.Y. 10965; Stefan A. Bloom, 1 Horsehill Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ. 07927 21 Appl. No. 828,689

[22] Filed May 28, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [54] CARRYING CASE 25 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl 224/49, 220/102, 229/52, 224/55 [51] Int. Cl A45c 11/00 I [50] Field of Search 224/49, 45.14, 45.15; 229/52B; 206/73, 1A; 220/102; 190/52 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 659,238 3/1889 Killinger 2,771,236 11/1956 Claffet al. 229/52(B)X 3,319,744 5/1967 Smith 190/52 3,015,432 l/l962 Tyrseckm. 229/52(B) 3,061,057 10/1962 Miller l90/52X FOREIGN PATENTS 651,199 3/1951 Great Britain 229/52(B) Primary ExaminerAlbert J Makay Attorney-Kirschstein, Kirschstein, Ottinger and Frank ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to a carrying case for a partially filled or full box of cards and its adaptability to be carried with other similar cases. The case comprises a top wall and a bottom wall being hingedly connected to a rear plate and each having a front face adapted to be fastened together about the box of cards disposed between the upper 67 12 mm 78 I 74 74 PATENTFUJANZSIQYI I 3558.025

' sum 1 or 6 67 MORTON BLAKE JOHN .s. HILL BY WARREN R. CRANE |8 STEFAN A. BLOOM 22 74 W, Mm My 6 28 74 78 72 34 I ATTORNEYS PAT'ENTED m2 5 WI SHEET 3 OF 6 LL-Ul INVENTORS:

BLAKE S. HILL ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJANZBISYI 3558.025

sum 5 OF 6 H l I! 106 34 90 32 l 6 INVILN'IUR MORTON BLAKE JOHN S. HILL BY WARREN R. CRANE STEFAN Av BLOOM {Ju i ATTORNEYS CARRYING CASE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a carrying case and more particularly to a carrying case for holding a box of dataprocessing cards.

Heretofore it has been known that when storing or transferring data-processing cards, the owner of the cards usually obtained a box from the corporation from whom it purchased the cards. By way of example IBM provides a corrugated card board box which is specifically shaped to hold certain types of data-processing cards and to store the same. This same box is used to transfer cards from one department or one plant to another and is usually carried by an individual from place to place. Because of the unusual size weight and bulkiness of the box, it is difficult for one individual to carry more than one box at a time. Obviously, therefore, the transportation of the boxes of cards becomes a matter of serious concern when boxes are to be transferred.

Further, it has been found that during the transportation of this cardboard box, it is not unusual for the cards contained therein to become mixed up if the entire box is not filled with cards.

The prior art has made several contributions to the carrying of mailable cartons; however, these principally resided in the principal of straps and associated strap fasteners. These generally required that the boxes are stacked one atop the other and the straps would circumvent the boxes and would be held from the top thereby having the horizontal stacked boxes carried by the individual. In most instances, this required that the boxes be held away from the carriers body because of the bulky size ofthe various boxes to be carried and such carrying position was most unfruitful for the individual carrying the boxes.

Yet another prior means of carrying boxes was merely the stacking of open boxes between two plates which were spring loaded the boxes being held in position on the lower plate by their weight. This means of carrying stacked boxes obviously did not fulfill the requirements of the industry in that the packages easily separated one from the other and thereby caused dislodge of at least one of the carried packages.

The most primitive means of transportation of the boxes was merely the carrying of the same in a loose fashion by the individual which obviously was most unsatisfactory because of the lack of efficiency as well as the tendency not to hold more than one or two boxes.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties in and to the prior art devices by the provision of an economical, surefitting carrier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carri er which will hold a single box of data-processing cards.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carrier which may be held in an upright position and carried in that position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide two carriers which may be easily carried as one.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide three carriers which may be connected together so that the individual need only grip one handle to carry all three carriers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide at least three carriers in such a manner so that an individual can carry all three carriers as easily as he carries one.

An object of the present invention is to provide greater protection against weather by maintaining the box closed more readily because the carrier may be locked around the box.

Still another object of the present invention is to protect a box against opening in event of falling.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carrier wherein the cards can be reached even with the carrier attached to the card box.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of carriers which may be stacked one on top of the other for storage purposes and one which easily aligns one on top of the other.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of handles on each carrier which may be used in connection with the same handles on other carriers such that more than one carrier may be transported as a single carried package.

A further object of the present invention is to adapt three independent carriers so that they may be carried by holding a single handle.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a carrier from which data-processing cards may be used without disturbing the natural order of the use of the box which holds the data-processing cards.

Still another object'of the present invention is to provide a separator device which will act as a supporting mechanism between various categories of data-processing cards.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a separator mechanism which will permit easy access to index cards and yet maintain them in upright position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a separator which will adequately grip the sides of the carrying box and prevent the shifting of cards in the box when the box is being used with or 'without the carrier even though the box may be only partially filled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a separator mechanism which will aid in identifying various categories of cards.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a locking means for locking three carrying cases together so that they may be carried as one single package.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a uniform carrying case for boxed data-processing cards, which is inexpensive to manufacture and easily usable.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The aforementioned objects and other objects, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a carrying box comprising a top plate and a bottom plate, said top and bottom plates having a front end and a rear end, said rear end of said top and bottom plate receiving a box of data-processing cards, a box alignment means connected to said lower plate, said upper plate being provided with a coverretaining means, for holding the cover of the card-carrying box, a front plate connected to said lower plate and extending upwardly therethrough, a connector plate hingedly connected to the front end of said top plate, a bottom handle hingedly connected to said bottom plate, a handle hingedly connected to the front plate, a top handle hingedly connected to the front end of said top plate, means for locking said rigid front plate together, means for supporting an upper handle and a lower handle disposed on the upper side of said carrier, means for interconnecting the bottom plate of said carrier with the upper plate of another carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings where like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the respective views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single carrying case with a box of cards therein,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying case opened without the box,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the front of the closed carrying case,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bottom plate of the carrying case,

FIG. 7 is a side view of two carrying cases one stacked upon the other,

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a side view showing one carrying case extending on its end,

FIG. 10 is a side view showing two carrying cases and the handles being grippable as a single handle,

FIG. II is a side view showing three carrying cases being carried together,

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of FIG. 10 showing the cross-sectional details of the connection of two carrying cases using one handle,

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the disposition of the handles of three carrying cases being carried together as one,

FIG. 14 is a cross section of three carrying cases connected together as shown in FIG. l3,

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of a box showing the disposition of a separator element connected therein,

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the separator element connected therein,

FIG. 17 is a side view showing the title indicator folding downwardly, and

FIG. 18 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the separator.

Referring now to FIG. I, a carrying case may be generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. In order to hold a box of cards 14, the carrier case 10 is provided with a bottom plate 16 on which the box 14 may be seated. The bottom plate has a front end 18 and a rear end 20 and has connected to its front end 18 a front plate 22. It should be noted that the bottom plate 16 is generally cutout in an openwork manner, so that the general weight of the carrying case 10 is reduced. However, this openwork does provide a certain advantage, such advantage will be more fully developed as the description proceeds.

In order to provide a means for holding the box of cards 14, in position atop the bottom plate l6, a pair of alignment members 24, 24a are connected to the side edges on the front-end portion 18 of the bottom plate 16. As shown in FIG. 1, these alignment members 24, 240 further maintain the box I4 on the bottom plate 16 and prevent the shifting of the box 14 off the bottom plate I6. It should be noted that the alignment members 24, 240 are preferably rigidly connected to the outer edges on the bottom plate 16 and to the side edges of the front plate 22. With this particular construction, the front end 26 of the card box 14 may snugly be maintained in position within the carrying case 10 whether the carrying case 10 is in its opened or closed conditions. Alternatively, small alignment members or tabs 24', 24a (shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) may be provided and very generally will serve the same purpose. In the case of this alternative embodiment, the front plate 22 might be hingedly connected to the front end 18 of the bottom plate 16 and in this way aid in creating a thinner collapsed carrying case of small dimension to make it less bulky for shipping purposes.

The lower front plate 22 is joined to the front-end portion 18 along the front edge 28 of the bottom plate 16. A cutout portion 30 is provided in the front-end portion I8 of the bottom plate 16 and is adapted to releasably hold therein a bottom handle 32 which is hingedly connected to the front edge 28 of the bottom plate 16. The hingedly connected bottom handle 32 may be molded with the bottom plate 16 or may be an independent member connected to the front edge 28 by a hinge which permits at least l80 rotative movement of the bottom handle 32 about its fixed side 34. The bottom handle 32, when not in use, may be releasably snap fitted into the eutout portion 30 in the bottom plate 16.

A backplate 36 is hingedly connected to rear end portion 20, along the rear edge 38, of the bottom plate 16. The backplate 36, as will be more fully developed as this description proceeds, not only supports the card box 14, when the carrying case 10 is being used to carry the card box 14 but also serves to maintain the card box I4 in alignment on the bottom plate 16 when the card box 14 is carried, stored or laid on a table (not shown). To this end, the side edges 40 of the backplate 36 are provided with frontwardly extending tabs 42 which fit around the rear end 44 of the card box [4. It will be seen that when the carrying case 10 is partially or fully closed (FIG. I) the back plate 36 is in an upright position (perpendicular to the bottom plate 16) and the tabs 42 snugly fit against the outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the card box 14.

In order to enclose the card box 14, a top plate 46 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the backplate 36 at its rear edge 48. The top plate 46 is similar in structure to the bottom plate 16 in that it is provided with cutout portions in an openwork manner. However, along the side edges of the top plate 46 there are provided gripping members 50 which are used to hold the side flaps 52 of the cover 54 on the card box 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the gripping members 50, when gripping the flaps 52, hold the flap and box top so that when the top plate is lifted the box will be opened.

The top plate 46 is provided with a recess 56 which extends from the front edge 58 rearwardly and releasably houses a top handle 60. The top handle 60 is hingedly secured to the front edge 58 of the top plate 46. In a like manner, the bottom handle 32 is connected to the front edge 28 of the-bottom plate 16.

It should be noted that both the top handle 60 and the bottom handle 32 are adapted to move in an arc of at least l from a secured position in their respective top and bottom plates 46, 16. It should be noted further that both the top handle 60 and the bottom handle 32 are each snap fitted into their respective recesses 56, 30 in the top plate 46 and the bottom plate 16, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. When the top handle 60 is not in use, it will be stored in its recess 56 in the top plate 46 and appears to be integral with the structure of the top plate 46. Similarly, the bottom handle 32 is stored in the bottom plate 16 when not in use.

For the purpose of totally enclosing a card box 14 and to permit the locking of the carrying case 10 around the card box 14, a top front face plate 62 is hingedly connected to the front edge 58 of the top plate 46.

In order to lock the bottom front face plate 22 and the top front face plate 62 together a securing means 64 is connected in part on the top and bottom front face plates 22 and 62. The securing means 64 permits the carrying case 10 to be locked around the card-carrying box 14 so that during the transportation of the card box 14, the carrying case 10 will not open. The securing means 64 is composed of a pair of generally inverted Ushaped members 66 integrally connected to the front face of the bottom front faceplate 22, near the upper edge 67 thereof. The opened area 69 of the inverted U-shaped members 56 are generally triangular in shape, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 13. A pair of projections 68 are provided on the front face of the top front face plate 62, the projections 68 being adapted to interlock within the inverted U-shaped members 66 open area 69 on the bottom front face plate 22 thereby locking the projection 68 into the inverted U-shaped member 66. As shown in FIG. 3, the projection 68 is generally triangular permitting the automatic centering of the projection 8 within the open area 69, should the top front face plate 62 be brought down out of line, somewhat, with the bottom front face plate 22. The projection 68 dovetails into the open area 69 to perfectly lock the top and bottom front face plates together. With this arrangement of releasably securing the top front face plate 62 to the bottom front face plate 22, the cardcarrying box 14 is firmly locked in position. An outwardly projecting lip 71 is provided on the inverted U-shaped member 66 so that the member 66 may be bent away from the projection when it is decided to unlock the box 14.

A carrying handle 70 is integrally connected to the top front face plate 62 so that when the carrying case 10 encloses the card box 14 and the carrying case 10 is in its locked position, the card box 14 may be within the carrying case 10 by merely gripping the handle 70 which projects outwardly from the front face plate 62 as shown in FIG. 9.

On the bottom front face plate 22, there is provided a handle securing means 72 which is comprised of three tabs which project perpendicularly outwardly from the bottom front face plate 22. The center tab 76 is taller than the remaining two elements 74 and is provided with a transverse lip 78 which extends upwardly toward the top face plate 62. Similarly, the top face plate 62 is provided with a handle securing means 80 which is comprised of three aligned tabsof which the center element 82 is the taller and adjacent the sides of the taller element 82 there are provided two shorter tabs 84. The taller tab 82 is provided with a lip 86 which extends transverse to the outwardly projecting handle securing means 80 and extends toward the bottom face plate 22. Each of the handle-securing members 72 and 80 is positioned a specific distance from their respective bottom edge 28 and top edge 58 of the bottom plate 16 and top plate 46. That specific distance, X for example, of the handle-securing means 72 from its bottom edge 28 is precisely the same distance as the distance from the hinged side of the top plate handle 60 to the inner gripping surface 88 of the top plate handle 60. Similarly, the distance between the handle-securing means 80 on the top face plate 62 is the precise distance Y from the hinged side of the bottom plate handle 32 to the gripping surface 90 of the bottom plate handle 32. These proportions become highly important as will be described in more detail.

The back plate 36 is provided with a plurality of short legs 100 such that when the carrying case is held in the upright position, as shown in FIGS. 9, I0 and II, carrying the card box 14, it may be set down on a table or floor, or other flat surfaces, and may be vertically stored unobtrusively if desired. As indicated in the foregoing description, both the top plate 46 and bottom plates 16 are provided with cutout portions. The bottom plate 16 having downwardly extending protrusions 106 which would interlock with an open area 108 in the top plate 46 and a carrying case set beneath the carrying case to be stacked As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 106 fits perfectly in the mating open area 108 on the top surface of the carrying case 10 beneath the case to be stacked. Because of the standard design of the carrying case I0, a number of carrying cases may be stacked one atop the other and their positions maintained in the stacked form by means of the mating protrusion 106 and open area 108 of the respective carrying cases 10.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and I2 show the carrying case 10 in actual operation. FIG. 9 shows the carrying case I0 with card box 14 therein standing, being held in an uprightposition and being singularly transported. The holder of the carrying case 10 merely grips the carrying handle 70 appearing at the approximate center of the front face (combined top front face plate 62 and bottom front face plate 22) in its secured or locked condition.

FIG. 10 shows two carrying cases 10 adapted to be carried by an individual and carries two (2) carrying cases as if one who merely grips two handles. As shown in FIG. 10, this is accomplished by the extension of the top handle 60 of the leftmost carrying case 10 with the abutting bottom handle 32 of the abutting carrying case 10. The carrier merely places the two handles (top handle 60 of leftmost case and bottom handle 32 of rightmost case 10) together and lifts upwardly thereby applying upward lifting pressure in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the top plate 46 of the leftmost carrying case 10 and the longitudinal axis of the bottom plate 16 of the right-hand carrying case 10. The combination of the weight and axis of rotation of the two carrying cases with the weight of the card boxes therein holds the two abutting carrying cases together. Since the bottom plate I6 of the rightmost carrying case 10 is provided with downwardly extending protrusions 106 which mate in the open areas 108 of the upper plate 46 of the leftmost carrying case, and with the weight distribution previously mentioned, the two carrying cases I0 will remain in their abutting positions when the two handles are lifted by the carrier so that two carriers 10 containing two boxes of cards may be easily carried by one hand of an individual.

In operation, if three card boxes are desired to be transported by a single individual, he may stand three carrying cases with their individual card boxes locked therein side by side as shown in FIGS. 11 and I3. The leftmost carrying case 10 would extend its top handle 60 and fold the same over the outwardly protruding handle-securing means 72 on the bottom front face plate 22 of the'center carrying case I0. The griping surface 88 of the top handle 62 of the leftmost carrying case mates with the transversely extending lip 78 of the handle-securing means 72 and securely locks the top plate handle 62 in position on the bottom plate securing means 72 of the center carrying case 10. Similarly, and in mirror-image fashion, the bottom plate handle 32 of the right-handmost carrying case 10 is folded over the handle-securing means 80 of centermost carrying case whereby the gripping surface of the bottom plate handle 32 of the right-handmost carrying case is interlocked with the transversely extending lip 86 of the handle-securing means 80 on the top front face plate 62 the center carrying case 10. In this manner both the left-handmost and the right-handmost carrying cases are locked in position on to the combined (locked together) front face plates of the centermost carrying case. As shown in FIG. II, the lower edge 28 of the right-handmost carrying case then becomes the pivot point of the center of rotation of the right-handmost carrying case thereby tending to push the right-handmost carrying case against the top plate 46 of the centermost carrying case, This factor coupled with the mating protrusion 106 and spaces 108 respectively on the bottom plate I6 of the righthandmost carrying case 10 and the space 108 on the top plate 46 of the'centermost carrying case tends to lock the righthandmost carrying case to the centermost carrying case.

Similarly, the left-handmost carrying case having its pivot point about the top edge 58 thereof, the weight of the lefthandmost carrying case tends to push against the bottom plate 16 of the centermost carrying case thereby locking the lefthandmost carrying case to the centermost carrying case. This also coupled with the fact that the bottom plate 46 of the centermost carrying case has protrusions 106 which mate with the spaces 108 in the top plate 46 of the lefbhandmost carrying case locks the three together. The holder,'by grasping the carrying handle 70 of the centermost carrying case 10, may thereby lift the three carrying cases at the same time.

In order to maintain separate classifications within the cards filed in the card box 14, a separator means 110 may be provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and IS. The purpose of the separator means 110 is at least twofold. The first is to maintain a diverse classification of cards for example, in accordance with the requirements of the user of the cards. For example, cards may be broken'down into alphabetical classifications, or whatever classifications are desirable for the user. The separator means 110 may be constructed of a separator plate 112 having a tab 114 hingedly mounted on the upper edge 116 of the separator plate 112. The tab 114 may be provided with a framelike structure 118 there around to permit the insertion of identification markers 120. As shown in FIG. I, the tab 114 extends substantially above the upper edge I16 of the stored index cards so that it will be easily seen by the user to identify the particular classification it is to represent. The identification markers 120 may be slid into and out of the framelike structure I I8 of the tab 114 so that the tab 1 14 may be used to mark one instance of the classification and later on to be used to mark another classification. As'shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the marker may be slidably inserted into the framelike structure 118 and held therein by the ordinary friction between the marker 120 and the inner surfaces of the framelike structure 1 18 thereby preventing its falling from the indicator.

As previously indicated, the tabs I14 are hingedly connected to the upper edge 116 of the separator plate 112 so that when the cover 54 of the box is closed over the cards, the tabs 114 may fold backwardly thereby permitting their remaining in position within the box. The tabs 114 would normally extend over the cards so that quick and easy identification of the various categories would be made. However, when the box top 54 is closed, the upper edges of the cards are very near the upper edges of the box so that if the tabs were not hingedly mounted, the tabs would interfere with the top of the box and the box would not be able to be closed. The ability of the tab 114 to fold back permits the complete closure of the box without sacrificing the use of the separator 110 to maintain the separate classifications even when the top of the box is closed.

A further use of the separator device 110 may be seen in its ability to maintain the position of cards within a limited area of the card-carrying box. That is, if a card-carrying box were only one-half filled, the separator means 110 is provided with a gripping mechanism 122 at each side of the separator plate 112 such that the separator plate 112 is releasably fixed in its position thereby preventing the shifting of the cards within the box. The advantage of such compartmentalization should be obvious in that when carrying the box of cards, the box is turned upwardly on its end and with the separator plate 112 releasably fixed in position within the box a partial load of cards would be maintained in position and would not shift within the box thereby preventing mutilation of the cards and an improper mixing thereof. Structurally, each gripping means 122 is in the form ofa generally inverted J-shape element 124. The long leg 126 is connectable to the side of the separator plate 112 and then downwardly therefrom. The curved area 128 is adapted to fit over the sidewalls of the box in which it is inserted and is provided with gripping surfaces 130 so that the sidewall of the box may be sufficiently gripped to maintain its position in a relatively fixed place. Shown in FIG. 15, the gripping device 124 may be fixedly connected to the lower end of the separator plate 112 or as shown in FIG. 16, a holding member 138 is provided into which an independently mounted gripping device 122' may be releasably attached. The function of the gripping device 122, its shape and general use are exactly the same as previously described; that is, the curved portion of the generally .l-shaped gripping device 122 fits over the sidewall of the box and has gripping surfaces 130 which bite into the sidewalls thus maintaining the separator plate 112' in a relatively fixed position.

As shown in FIG. 17, the gripping means is generally wider in structure than the thickness of the separator plate 112. This particular structure provides a greater gripping surface on the sidewalls of the boxes thereby preventing the slippage of the gripping means 110 when placed in position against the sidewalls of the box. Further, the amount of gripping on the sidewalls of the box prevents a heavy load of cards disposed within the box from shifting to an unoccupied section of the box during transportation. This feature is extremely important as it provides one of the basic functions of the separator plate 112. The separator plate 112, as shown in FIGS. and 16, at its upper and lower edges are provided with pairs of abutment means 134 which provide an area on which rubber bands 136 may be mounted. The pair of abutment means 134 on the upper edge 116 of the separator plate 112 are generally in alignment with the abutment means 134 of the separator plate 112 on the lower edge thereof so that rubber bands may be stretched between the abutment areas. In this manner, a group of cards may be placed between two separator plates with rubber bands placed therearound and may be transported in that fashion from one place to another. The front and back of the card package is then protected by the separator plate so that the mutilating of the cards is thereby eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 15, the gripping means 122 is generally molded integrally with the separator plate 112 and is of generally unitary construction. However, if the separator plates are used to hold just a few cards between them, the preferred type of construction of the separator plates is shown in FIG. 16. In FIG. 16, the gripping means 122 are removable from a pair of holders 138 near the lower end 140 of the separator plates 112' into which the gripping means 122' may be snap fitted. Whether or not the gripping means are molded integrally with the separator plate, the structure permits the holding of cards in a relatively fixed position in either case. lt

may be seen, however, that for the purpose of transportation of a limited number of cards it would be preferable to use the separator plate as shown in FIG. 16 having the gripping means removed from their holding means. Structurally, this would represent separator plates not having any gripping means attached thereto so that the projecting gripping means would not interfere or be broken during the transportation of the index cards.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing a carrying case which encloses a box to be transported and permits more than one box to be carried, at a time, using only one or two handles. The invention also permits the stacking of boxes, to be stored, and further provides a separator device which is disposed within the box to be carried for compartmentalizing said box.

While in accordance with the patent statutes a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

We claim:

1. A carrying case for transporting a box comprising a bottom plate having a front end and a rear end, a top plate having front end and a rear end, a backplate hingedly connected to the rear ends of said top plate and said bottom plate, a top front face plate hingedly connected to the front end of said top plate, a front face plate connected to the front end of said bottom plate, a securing means connected to said front face plate and said top front face plate for locking a box within said top and bottom plates, a handle connected to said top front face plate to facilitate the carrying of said carrying case, a top handle hingedly connected to the front end of said top plate, said top handle being releasably disposed within a recess in said top plate, and a bottom handle hingedly connected to the front end of said bottom plate, said bottom handle being releasably disposed within a recess in said bottom plate.

2. A carrying case according to claim 1, wherein a handle securing means is provided on said top front face plate.

3. A carrying case according to claim 2, wherein a handle securing means is provided on said front face plate.

4. A carrying case according to claim 3, wherein each of said handle securing means extends outwardly from said front face plate and said top front face plate.

5. A carrying case according to claim 4, wherein each of said securing means is provided with a lip extending transverse to the outwardly extending securing means.

6. A carrying case according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of gripping members are provided on the top plate for gripping the cover of the box seated on said bottom plate such that when the top plate is lifted the cover of the box will be lifted simultaneously.

7. A carrying case according to claim 6, wherein each one of said gripping members is comprises of an L-shaped member having its vertical arm connected to the side edges of said top.

plate, the other arm of said L-shaped member extends laterally inwardly, a gripping surface disposed on the end of said laterally inwardly extending arm for gripping the cover of said box.

8. A carrying case according to claim 6, wherein at least one box alignment member is provided on said bottom plate for maintaining the box in a laterally fixed position on said bottom plate.

9. A carrying case according to claim 8, wherein said rear plate is provided with a plurality of tabs for maintaining said box therebetween thereby limiting the movement of said box when said carrying case is closed.

10. A carrying case according to claim 9, wherein said tabs project toward the front end of said bottom plate.

11. A carrying case according to claim 10, wherein said top plate is provided with a multiplicity of open areas.

12. A carrying case according to claim 11, wherein said .bottom plate is provided with a multiplicity of protrusions which register in said open areas in said top plate such that when one carrying case is stacked on top of another carrying case the registration of said protrusions and said open areas will prevent the sliding of one case off the other and permit the stacking of more carrying cases thereon.

13. A carrying case according to claim 12, wherein said hingedly mounted top and bottom handles are each rotatable through an arc of at least 180.

14. A carrying case according to claim 13, wherein said front face plate is rigidly connected to said front end of said bottom plate and extends perpendicularly upward therefrom.

15. A carrying case according to claim 13, wherein said securing means is comprised of at least one generally U- shaped member connected to said bottom front face plate, at least one projection mounted on said top front face plate, each projection fitting into the open area of each of said generally U-shaped members thereby locking said projection into said open area and releasably securing said top front face plate to said bottom front face plate.

16. A carrying case according to claim 15, wherein each of said U-shaped members is resiliently mounted, a lip provided on said U-shaped member to aid in disengaging said protrusion from the open area in said U-shaped member to unlock said carrying case so that access may be had to the box.

17. A carrying case according to claim 16. wherein a plurality of shon legs on the rear surface of said backplate to aid in standing said carrying case. I

18. A carrying case according to claim 17, wherein said top handle is provided with a gripping surface is a fixed distance from the hinged side of the top handle, said fixed distance being the same distance between the front edge of said bottom plate and the handle-securing means on said bottom front face plate. I

19. A carrying case according to claim 18, wherein said bottom handle is provided with a gripping surface is a fixed distance from the hinged side of thebottom handle said fixed distance being the same distance between the front edge of said top plate and the handle-securing means on said top front face plate.

20. A carrying case according to claim 1, further including a separator means comprises a separator plate, a tab disposed on the upper tab of said separator plate, gripping means disposed on the side edges of said separator plate for gripping the sides of the box into which the separator means is inserted preventing material from shifting from one part of the box to an empty portion of the box.

21. A carrying case according to claim 19, further including a separator meanscomprises a separator plate, a tab disposed on the upper tab of said separator plate, gripping means disposed on the side edges of said separator plate for gripping the sides of the box into which the separator means is inserted preventing material from shifting from one part of the box to an empty portion of the box 22. A carrying case according to claim 2l. wherein said tab disposed on said separator plate is hingedly connected thereto so that when the top of the box is closed the tab may be folded down without interfering with the closure of the box.

23. A carrying case according to claim 22, wherein said gripping means is fixedly connected to the side of the separator plate.

24. A carrying case according to claim 23, wherein said gripping means is releasably insertable in a pair of holders disposed at the lower end of the sides of the separator plate, said gripping means being releasably locked into said holders.

25. A carrying case according to claim 20, wherein said gripping means are releasably connected to holders at the lower end of the side edges of the separator plate. 

1. A carrying case for transporting a box comprising a bottom plate having a front end and a rear end, a top plate having front end and a rear end, a backplate hingedly connected to the rear ends of said top plate and said bottom plate, a top front face plate hingedly connected to the front end of said top plate, a front face plate connected to the front end of said bottom plate, a securing means connected to said front face plate and said top front face plate for locking a box within said top and bottom plates, a handle connected to said top front face plate to facilitate the carrying of said carrying case, a top handle hingedly connected to the front end of said top plate, said top handle being releasably disposed within a recess in said top plate, and a bottom handle hingedly connected to the front end of said bottom plate, said bottom handle being releasably disposed within a recess in said bottom plate.
 2. A carrying case according to claim 1, wherein a handle securing means is provided on said top front face plate.
 3. A carrying case according to claim 2, wherein a handle securing means is provided on said front face plate.
 4. A carrying case according to claim 3, wherein each of said handle securing means extends outwardly from said front face plate and said top front face plate.
 5. A carrying case according to claim 4, wherein each of said securing means is provided with a lip extending transverse to the outwardly extending securing means.
 6. A carrying case according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of gripping members are provided on the top plate for gripping the cover of the box seated on said bottom plate such that when the top plate is lifted the cover of the box will be lifted simultaneously.
 7. A carrying case according to claim 6, wherein each one of said gripping members is comprises of an L-shaped member having its vertical arm connected to the side edges of said top plate, the other arm of said L-shaped member extends laterally inwardly, a gripping surface disposed on the end of said laterally inwardly extending arm for gripping the cover of said box.
 8. A carrying case according to claim 6, wherein at least one box alignment member is provided on said bottom plate for maintaining the box in a laterally fixed position on said bottom plate.
 9. A carrying case according to claim 8, wherein said rear plate is provided with a plurality of tabs for maintaining said box therebetween thereby limiting the movement of said box when said carrying case is closed.
 10. A carrying case according to claim 9, wherein said tabs project toward the front end of said bottom plate.
 11. A carrying case according to claim 10, wherein said top plate is provided with a multiplicity of open areas.
 12. A carrying case according to claim 11, wherein said bottom plate is provided with a multiplicity of protrusions which register in said open areas in said top plate such that when one carrying case is stacked on top of another carrying case the registration of said protrusions and said open areas will prevent the sliding of one case off the other and permit the stacking of more carrying cases thereon.
 13. A carrying case according to claim 12, wherein said hingedly mounted top and bottom handles are each rotatable through an arc of at least 180*.
 14. A carrying case according to claim 13, wherein said front face plate is rigidly connected to said front end of said bottom plate and extends perpendicularly upward therefrom.
 15. A carrying case according to claim 13, wherein said securing means is comprised of at least one generally U-shaped member connected to said bottom front face plate, at least one projection mounted on said top front face plate, each projection fitting into the open area of each of said generally U-shaped members thereby locking said projection into said open area and releasably securing said top front face plate to said bottom front face plate.
 16. A carrying case according to claim 15, wherein each of Said U-shaped members is resiliently mounted, a lip provided on said U-shaped member to aid in disengaging said protrusion from the open area in said U-shaped member to unlock said carrying case so that access may be had to the box.
 17. A carrying case according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of short legs on the rear surface of said backplate to aid in standing said carrying case.
 18. A carrying case according to claim 17, wherein said top handle is provided with a gripping surface is a fixed distance from the hinged side of the top handle, said fixed distance being the same distance between the front edge of said bottom plate and the handle-securing means on said bottom front face plate.
 19. A carrying case according to claim 18, wherein said bottom handle is provided with a gripping surface is a fixed distance from the hinged side of the bottom handle, said fixed distance being the same distance between the front edge of said top plate and the handle-securing means on said top front face plate.
 20. A carrying case according to claim 1, further including a separator means comprises a separator plate, a tab disposed on the upper tab of said separator plate, gripping means disposed on the side edges of said separator plate for gripping the sides of the box into which the separator means is inserted preventing material from shifting from one part of the box to an empty portion of the box.
 21. A carrying case according to claim 19, further including a separator means comprises a separator plate, a tab disposed on the upper tab of said separator plate, gripping means disposed on the side edges of said separator plate for gripping the sides of the box into which the separator means is inserted preventing material from shifting from one part of the box to an empty portion of the box.
 22. A carrying case according to claim 21, wherein said tab disposed on said separator plate is hingedly connected thereto so that when the top of the box is closed the tab may be folded down without interfering with the closure of the box.
 23. A carrying case according to claim 22, wherein said gripping means is fixedly connected to the side of the separator plate.
 24. A carrying case according to claim 23, wherein said gripping means is releasably insertable in a pair of holders disposed at the lower end of the sides of the separator plate, said gripping means being releasably locked into said holders.
 25. A carrying case according to claim 20, wherein said gripping means are releasably connected to holders at the lower end of the side edges of the separator plate. 